Adolescence Development

Adolescence Development

1. Perceptions

   • Darwin
     • a cascade of instinctual passions & resembled the era in which humans evolved from savages into civilised beings
   • Anna Freud
     • Adolescence is a biologically-based, ‘developmental disturbance”; Genital stage - Sexual impulses reawaken: Psychological conflict and volatile behaviour
   • Social
     • Storm and Stress Exagerration
       • rate of psychological disturbance rises by around 3% from childhood to adolescence; emotional disturbance is not routine
         • Margaret Mead; viewed social environment as responsible for adolescents’ emotions (erratic, agitated, stress-free)
   • Balanced
     • Length of adolescence varies among cultures
       • Small villages and tribal communities; brief phase
       • Industrialised nations; more reliance on parents, longer transition

2. Puberty

   • Sexual maturation controlled by sex hormones androgens and estrogens
     • Estrogens more in girls; released by ovaries; Causes maturation of breasts, uterus, vagina & regulation of menstrual cycle
     • Androgens more in boys; boys testes release large quantities; causes muscle growth & body/facial hair
   • Growth and Motor Changes
     • Rapid gain in height and weight (Growth Spurt); starts 10 yrs girls; 12.5 yrs boys; ends 16 yrs girls; 17.5 yrs boys; Hands/legs/feet accelerate first followed by torso.
     • Gross Motor; Slow and gradual changes in girls; Boys change in spurts - Few girls perform as well as average boys
     • Brain changes; stronger links between prefrontal cortex and other areas; gradual improvement in processing speed, inhibition, attention, memory, planning, capacity to integrate information, cognitive & emotional self-regulation
     • During puberty, the neurons become more responsive to excitatory neurotransmitters •Adolescents react more strongly to stressful events and experience pleasurable stimuli more intensely.
       • Drive for novel experiences; recklessness, unprotected sex, drug taking.
     • Surge in sex hormones heightens sensitivity to the hormone oxytocin
   • Sexual Maturation
     • Primary sexual characteristics involve reproductive organs directly; ovaries, uterus, vagina, penis, scrotum, testes
     • Secondary sexual characteristics are visible on outside of body; breast development, underarm hair, pubic hair
     • Order in girls; breasts begin to ‘bud’, height spurt begins, pubic hair appears, peak strength spurt, peak height spurt, menarche (first menstruation begins), peak weight spurt, adult stature reached, pubic hair growth completed, breast growth completed.
     • Order in Boys; testes begin to enlarge, pubic hair appears, penis begins to enlarge, height spurt begins, spermarche (first ejaculation occurs), peak height spurt, peak weight spurt, facial hair begins to grow, voice begins to deepen, penis and testes growth completed, peak strength spurt, adult stature reached, pubic hair growth completed.
   • Physical Transitions •Body growth •Motor development & physical activity •Sexual maturation •Individual differences in pubertal growth •The secular trend •Brain development •Sleep
   • Psychological Impact; Reaction to changes; Emotional & social reactions; Consequences of timing of puberty; Factors in reactions to timing of puberty; Timing: Long-term consequences
     • 1950; 50% girls received no warning of menstrual cycle.

3. Needs and Experiences

   • Need 9 hrs sleep - same as middle childhood yet go to bed later; perform more poorly cognitively
   • Boys 2700 cals per day; Girls 2200 cals per day
   • Common; iron deficiency; not enough calcium (bones), riboflavin or magnesium (metabolism).
   • Girls more likely to develop eating disorders; anorexia nervosa (1%); bulimia (2-4%)
   • Unintentional Injuries Increase; Risk taking + sensation seeking + acting without forethought
     • Automobile accidents, sports related injuries
   • Sexual Experiences
     • Some cultures extremely negative; UK mixed messages; religious affiliation conflicts with sexualised media
       • Characteristics of sexually active: Early puberty, tendency to engage in norm-violating acts, little or no religious involvement step-parents, single-parents or large family, Weak parental monitoring, Weak parent-child communication, Sexually-active friends/siblings, poor school performance, low educational goals.
   • Sexual Orientation
     • Heredity and Environment
       • 50-60% od adolescents have engaged in homosexual activity
         • Stages; identity confusion, identity comparison, identity tolerance, Identity confusion, Identity pride, Identity synthesis.
           • Berks Sequence; 6-12 yrs feeling different; 11-15 boys 14-15 girls confusion; variable self acceptance
   • In Scotland, 35% of teens are binge drinking by the age of 13; Iceland is 6%; peers, sensation seeking, rebelliousness, school performance, sibling drinking

4. Early Adolescence (11/12 — 14 years); period of rapid pubertal change Middle Adolescence (14 — 16 years); pubertal changes now nearly complete Late Adolescence (16 — 18 years); achieves full adult appearance

5. Early Puberty and Psychological

   • Adolescent Moodiness •Biological, psychological & social forces combine, giving adolescents emotional highs and lows.
     • Puberty linked to child-parent conflicts; psychological distancing
       • New powers of reasoning, want to be treated as adult, more opportunities for conflict (dating etc.)
         • Early maturation negative for girls, positive for boys.
     • Girls want to be thinner, boys want to be bigger; low self esteem.